Fabulous in French, Sharapova wins

At 25, the 6-2 Russian returns to WTA’s No. 1

PARIS – Sidelined in 2008 by a right shoulder that needed surgery, putting her tennis future suddenly in doubt, Maria Sharapova decided to use the free time to study a new language, the one spoken at the only Grand Slam tournament she had yet to win.

“I found a French school close to my house, and I did private lessons every single day for three months,” she said.

Sharapova cut short those classes when it was time to begin the slow, painful rehab process and get her shoulder back in shape. About 3½ years later, on Saturday at Roland Garros, Sharapova put all of that hard work to good use on the most important clay court there is – and even trotted out a little French during the victory speech she often wondered if she’d ever get a chance to deliver.

Whipping big serves with that rebuilt shoulder, putting forehands and backhands right on baselines and even moving well on the red surface she once worried made her look like a “cow on ice,” Sharapova beat surprise finalist Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-2 to win her first French Open title and become the 10th woman with a career Grand Slam.

“It’s a wonderful moment in my career,” the 25-year-old Sharapova told the crowd in French, before switching to English to add: “I’m really speechless. It’s been such a journey for me to get to this stage.”

Truly has.

So much came so easily for Sharapova at the start: Wimbledon champion at age 17; No. 1 in the rankings at 18; U.S. Open champion at 19; Australian Open champion at 20. But a shoulder operation in October 2008 made everything tougher. She didn’t play singles from August 2008 until the next May, when her ranking fell to 126th.

“It wasn’t getting better as soon as everyone thought it would,” she said about her shoulder. “That was the frustrating thing, because it was like, ‘When is this going to end?’”

It took until her 10th postsurgery Grand Slam tournament for Sharapova to get back to a major final, at Wimbledon last July, but she lost. She also reached the Australian Open final this January, but again she lost.

Really, though, there’s something apropos about Sharapova’s fourth career Grand Slam title – and first since her shoulder was fixed – coming in Paris, rounding out the quartet at a spot that always seemed to present the most difficulties. Her powerful shots lose some sting on clay, and the footing can be tricky for anyone who didn’t grow up on the rust-colored stuff.

She’s unbeaten in 16 matches on it this season, including titles at Stuttgart and Rome.

Sharapova will return to No. 1 for the first time since June 2008 in Monday’s WTA rankings.

Errani, for her part, never paid attention to those who said a 5-4½ woman couldn’t possibly compete against the very best in tennis. Posing at the net before the match, the 6-2 Sharapova towered over her opponent – then was head-and-shoulders above Errani when play began, too.

“I started badly, and that’s what bothers me the most,” said the 21st-seeded Errani, who admitted she was overcome by nerves at the onset. “You can’t do that against players like her, because she was only going to get better once she loosened up.”

Born 10 days apart in April 1987, both trained as kids at Nick Bollettieri’s academy in Florida (Errani said she lost badly in their only head-to-head match there; Sharapova said she has no recollection). Both were playing in the French Open final for the first time.

The similarities end there, though. As lopsided as the eventual result was, Errani made Sharapova earn it with winner after winner – Sharapova carried a 37-12 edge in that category.

“She hits very hard, very flat and very deep shots, barely over the net. She never let me do what I wanted to do. I always felt like I was being pushed around,” Errani said. “I didn’t play my best, but she also deserves credit for that.”

Sharapova got her third match point with a 110-mph (178 kph) ace, No. 6 of the afternoon, and this time she converted when Errani’s sliced backhand hit the net.

Sharapova dropped her racket, covered her face with her hands and fell to her knees, muddying them with clay. Soon enough, she was cradling the silver champion’s cup and biting her lower lip while listening to the Russian national anthem.

“Oh, this is beautiful. I never thought I would get this,” Sharapova said. “I never thought I would want red clay, but I do. Now I do.”

Michel Euler/Associated Press
“It’s a wonderful moment in my career,” the 25-year-old Sharapova told the crowd in French, before switching to English to add: “I’m really speechless. It’s been such a journey for me to get to this stage.”

Michel Euler/Associated Press
“It’s a wonderful moment in my career,” the 25-year-old Sharapova told the crowd in French, before switching to English to add: “I’m really speechless. It’s been such a journey for me to get to this stage.”

Bernat Armangue/Associated Press
“I started badly, and that’s what bothers me the most,” said the 21st-seeded Italian, Sara Errani, who admitted she was overcome by nerves at the onset. “You can’t do that against players like her, because she was only going to get better once she loosened up.”

Bernat Armangue/Associated Press
“I started badly, and that’s what bothers me the most,” said the 21st-seeded Italian, Sara Errani, who admitted she was overcome by nerves at the onset. “You can’t do that against players like her, because she was only going to get better once she loosened up.”

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French Open

PARIS – A look at the French Open on Saturday:Weather: Partly cloudy. High of 66 degrees.Attendance: 19,889.Women’s Final: No. 2 Maria Sharapova beat No. 21 Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2.Stat of the Day: 10 – Women in tennis history who have won each Grand Slam title at least once, now that Sharapova added the French Open to her victories at Wimbledon in 2004, the U.S. Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.Quote of the Day: “I’ll retire the day I wake up and don’t believe I can be a better player.” – said Sharapova, who is 25.Today’s Men’s Final: No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 2 Rafael Nadal, 7 a.m., NBC (KOBF, KUSA).Today’s Forecast: Rain. High of 64 degrees.Associated Press